Bentonville

The small-town feel of Bentonville, Arkansas belies the corporate energy of the international headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. located near the heart of the city.

The City of Bentonville, AR was established in 1837 with a population of 30 and incorporated in 1873 with a population of 500. Today, Bentonville is home to about 34,000 people and is visited by hundreds of vendors to Wal-Mart, which was founded by Sam Walton.

Established in 1836 as the first county seat in the state of Arkansas, Bentonville has maintained a lot of the historic character of the town. Within the city limits, there are 72 historical buildings and homes, including the 1875 Peel House Mansion and Historical Gardens. Within Benton County, there are 140 Civil War sites.

The Bentonville town square embraces a Civil War statue, benches, fountain, and beautiful gardens surrounded by quaint shops. The 1928 Benton County Courthouse is a three-story neo-classical structure designed by A.O. Clark. During the Civil War, all but 12 buildings in the downtown neighborhood were burned. Therefore, the main business buildings around the square were constructed between 1875 and 1888. A main attraction on the square is the Walmart Museum. The museum is housed in Sam Walton's original variety store, which now traces the origin and growth of Wal-Mart. The center was created as an educational and informative facility about this American retailing success story.

The Walton family has had a substantial impact on this town. Founded by Alice Walton on 100 acres of land donated from the Walton Family, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened Nov. 11, 2011. The museum is a premier art institution dedicated to American art and artists, learning and community gatherings. The main pavilions house a permanent collection of American art masterworks from the colonial era to modern day – which are open to the public at no cost – and a number of touring collections from national art institutions. Visitors enjoy the collection within the state-of-the-art galleries and throughout the surrounding park. A dynamic temporary exhibitions program complements the holdings of the permanent collection and exemplify the diversity of American artists. The museum takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. An innovative building design – reflective of its forested creek-side home and linked by landscaped trails and paths connecting area neighborhoods – captures the interplay of nature, art and culture in the region. The museum property and grounds are within walking distance of the Bentonville town square. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright structure, the Bachman Wilson House originally in New Jersey, is being added to the property overlooking Crystal Spring. After being dismantled it will be reconstructed in Bentonville.

Great shopping and dining venues line the downtown area, where festivals and events also take place. Be sure to check out the 21C Museum Hotel, located downtown. It's an upscale contemporary place for lodging and dining that also contains a modern art museum and gallery, adding a layer of culture you don’t find at many other hotels. Bentonville, AR is now a prime choice not only for the business traveler, but the leisure traveler as well.

Whether you’re here for a few days or a whole week, there are plenty of other popular attractions to visit, including the Compton Gardens and the Museum of Native American Artifacts. The gardens are located at the former home of Dr. Neil Compton, who spearheaded the effort to protect one of Arkansas’s most precious resources– the Buffalo National River. The gardens showcase 6.5 acres of native woodland plants, walking trails and prairie. Three Arkansas Champion Trees are on the site. It is open to public daily from dawn to dusk, and also serves as an event facility and conference center. Located one block north of the downtown square, a multi-use bike trail starts behind the gardens and runs along a ridge overlooking Crystal Bridges. This one-half mile, hard surface trail links to the larger city trail system.

The Museum of Native American Artifacts features real artifacts from the private collection of founder David Bogle along with 47 items from the former University of Arkansas Museum. Nine rare pots in the shapes of a head or body are among the pieces on display. The 5,000-square-foot space is west of the downtown.

Mountain bikers are drawn to the 20-plus-mile Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Trail containing more than 20 miles of the finest single track designed and built by two of the premier trail builders in the country: IMBA and Progressive Trail Design. The best-in-class free ride park and 16 skinny Northshore log rides make for one of the best mountain bike destinations around and the ultimate bike vacation – it’s common to see riders of all skill levels enjoying the trails. Guests can view a Bentonville, Arkansas bike map and find more information and resources at Bike Bentonville. Bentonville received designation by IMBA as a 2014 Ride Center (silver level).

Bentonville is situated in the Ozark Mountain region near lakes, state parks, and numerous outdoor opportunities. Water sports and camping are popular at nearby Beaver Lake. There's a combination of five more public and private golf courses in Benton County for residents and visitors to enjoy.